Wacky Scholarships

If you’re trying to pull together some extra money for college or grad school, don’t discount weird or wacky scholarships just because they’re a bit unconventional. Many of these nontraditional scholarships get fewer applicants than merit- or athletic-based scholarships, and even a few hundred dollars of award money can help reduce loans or make a dent in tuition costs.

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A Web search for "weird scholarships" or "unusual scholarships" will land dozens of results, so do a thorough search if you're interested in applying for some of the odder scholarships that are available. Find out as many specific details as you can before filling out an application, and keep deadlines in mind.

The Zolp scholarship has a few very specific requirements; it’s awarded only to a Catholic student with the name of Zolp who has been admitted to Loyola University in Chicago. Those criteria narrow down the prospective-applicant field considerably, but if you do fit the requirements, you have an excellent chance of getting this scholarship.

The Culinary Institute of America holds a yearly apple-pie-baking recipe contest that awards one winning student $25,000 toward a bachelor's degree at the school or $12,500 toward an associate's degree. One second-place winner gets $15,000, and a third-place winner is awarded $10,000. Several finalists also receive smaller scholarships to the CIA.

The Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest is held annually and awards four winners with college-scholarship money totaling $2,500. Participants compete according to rules that govern the World's Championship Duck Calling Contest, and each student uses four duck calls in a 90-second window of time.

The Lambert and Annetje Van Valkenburg Memorial Scholarship Fund was founded by the descendants of a man named Lambert Van Valckenburgh. The Fund is designed to further awareness of the National Association of the Van Valkenburg Family and its legacy and to award scholarships to students in the family. The first scholarship was awarded in 2006, and the award is scheduled to be granted every two years.

Don't discount wacky scholarships just because they're a little odd.

The CKSF awards scholarships based on students' scores on quizzes. Instead of evaluating grades or meritorious accomplishments or requesting students to write essays, the organization holds tournament quiz rounds in a variety of different topics. Past contests have included the FBI Common Knowledge Challenge, the Philadelphia Eagles Common Knowledge Scholarship, and the Financial Literacy Scholarship.

The American Sheep Industry Association holds a contest every year that awards scholarships to students who create fashionable clothing items out of wool. The ASI intends for the scholarship to promote awareness of the variety and versatility of wool fabrics and yarns and to encourage personal creativity and fashionable expression. These wacky scholarships are open to anyone, from children to adults.

The American Association of Candy Technologists awards an annual $5,000 scholarship to a college student with a documented or demonstrated interest in the field of confectionary technology. The student must major in food science, chemical science, biological science, or a related area and have past work or personal experience that exhibits involvement in confectionary technology.

If you're applying for one of these wacky scholarships, put every bit as much effort into your application as you would if you were applying for a more traditional scholarship. Pay attention to requirements, and treat them seriously. Proofread and re-draft any essays until they're the best you can make them, and double-check that all of your materials are complete and professional before you submit them.

If you're competing in a contest to win a scholarship, present yourself professionally and attempt to leave an impression by performing in the best way that you can. Even though these scholarships are offbeat, take yourself seriously so that others will, too!

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